Interest CheckKeyboards

Obey65 - A Spark to Kindle Rebellion, A 65% to Disobey

geekhackic

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Description

Obey65

Hello Everyone! This is Rebellion Studio. And today we are going to launch the official international interest check for our first keyboard project - Obey65! We have been working on this keyboard for over a year, and we are finally happy with the results. Let's get right into it.

Design Language

Here are some of the thoughts we had in the design phase, I hope I can share them with you.

During the conceptual design of the Obey, we drew inspiration for its appearance from Blade Runner 2049. The design itself is boldly referencing the experience evoked by the architecture in the film, like brutalist structures standing in the desert. We believe they are a tangible embodiment of the authoritative order in a cyberpunk world. And the somber tone of this system flows in the vein of the Obey.

The Obey features bold geometric cuts as we believe these sharp and angular contours emulate the imposing presence of architecture. The top decorative piece (we call it the "forehead") was extended along its natural flow to form an overhanging structure that conveys a strong sense of breaking boundaries. The fine texture of anodization replicates the feel of a building's fa�ade, while the semi-concealed light strip represents a faint breath beneath the calmness of the shell.

In terms of industrial design, Obey was conceived with a concise design tone from the very beginning. Thus, how to respond to design with simplicity became our primary challenge.
We strived toward the goal of "shaping classics through simplicity" and tackled the challenge with two main strategies:

First, respecting the nature of materials and creating a sense of formal uniqueness through contrasts in material textures. Using the "familiar" to create the "novel" is key to the design.

Second, we meticulously refined details such as proportions, lines, chamfers, and seems. These are all focal points in such a sharp design. The Obey did not bow down to the norms of having extremely thin bezels like most 65% kits. Instead, the forehead is deliberately enlarged even though it serves no functional purpose. This decision was made both for balanced overall proportions and because the textured extension from the forehead to the back is a significant visual highlight.

Pictures, of course.
Brass Bottom:

PC top + Alu Bottom:

We have a couple of review vids on Bilibili:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1qq6pBoEib/?spm_id_from=333.337.search-card.all.click&vd_source=58f839579a2495c4ef8fd9d701bfceda
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1JhB9BLEWN/?spm_id_from=333.337.search-card.all.click&vd_source=58f839579a2495c4ef8fd9d701bfceda
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Sek4BAEen/?spm_id_from=333.337.search-card.all.click&vd_source=58f839579a2495c4ef8fd9d701bfceda
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Nq2iBoEM5/?spm_id_from=333.337.search-card.all.click&vd_source=58f839579a2495c4ef8fd9d701bfceda

Now for the basic info:

Specs:

Front Height: 19.38mm (EKH≈24mm)
Type Angle: 8�
Mounting Options: PCB Silicone Gasket mount and Top mount
PCB: 1.6mm, single mode/Tri-mode, Hotswap, w/ or w/o flex-cuts
Layouts: Single blocker 65%, with 7u Enter, Stepped Caps, Split left Shift, Split Backspace, and 6.25u/7u SB support.

Materials and Finishes:

Top Case: Aluminum (200-grit Anodized) or PC
Bottom Case: Aluminum (200-grit Anodized) or Brass (Sand-blasted and transparent e-coat)
Top Decorative Piece (the Forehead): Machine-marked Aluminum or Stainless Steel PVD
Weight: Machine-marked Aluminum or Stainless Steel PVD
Battery Slot Cover: Aluminum (200-grit Anodized)
Light Diffuser: PC
Plate: PC/PEI/Aluminum (Aluminum will come standard)

Functions and Features

Lighting System: Blocker light and Light strip in the back. VIA configurable.

Price:

Will be announced in official GB

More Pictures can be found on our posts on ZFrontier:
https://www.zfrontier.com/app/flow/1zWdEYO1ELgG
https://www.zfrontier.com/app/flow/jpWyl7VxdEYd
https://www.zfrontier.com/app/flow/MqGQbZZJMaOm
https://www.zfrontier.com/app/flow/O6NR7baaLzYK

To wrap up, the Obey65 has taken a path that is not easy. As our first project, it might seem it should be more dazzling, but just as the literal meaning of Rebellion suggests, disobedience in its core symbolizes critical thinking, an independent spirit that belongs to the very origins of customization. The Obey is a bold attempt by our team. With passion, we have put forth our utmost effort to refine this piece. We hope it can be seen by more. Thank you all.